Tube driving apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for driving large diameter tubes where only a limited amount of space is available, particularly for driving steel jacket tubes used in constructing reinforced concrete roof beams for underground galleries starting from a pilot gallery. The apparatus consists of ram means carried on a ram support and a tube guide for the tubes which are to be driven. The ram support and tube guide are independent structures and each have legs adjustable in height. Provision is also made for interposing distance pieces between the ram means and the tubes so that rams having a stroke short in comparision with the length of the tubes may be used.

United States Patent 11 1 11 3,742,718

Weiss et al. July3, 1973 Q [54] TUBE DRIVING APPARATUS 2,383,496 8/1945 Nebolsine l75/62 1161 Bruno Weiss, Kolberger m 5:22:53 lzilfii $2352513:31:33: '11:: 1 52/3352 Metlkausen; Rich"! W655, 3,005,314 l0/l96l Cunningham 254/29 R Sprchernstrasse 52, M Duisburg.

both of Germany 7 Primary Examiner-Ernest R. Purser 22 Filed; Sept. 7, 97 Attorney-Michael S. Striker v Apparatus for driving large diameter tubes where only Foreign Application Priority Data a limited amount of space is available, particularly for Sept. 25, 1970 Germany G 70 35 606.8 driving steel jacket tubes used in constructing reing forced concrete roof beams for underground galleries [52] US. Cl.....; 6 l/72.7, 61/42, 175/62, starting from a pilot gallery. The apparatus consists of 299/33, 299/33 ram means carried on a ram'support and a tube guide [51] Int. Cl. E0lg 3/03 for the tubes which are to be driven. The ram support [58] Field of Search 62/721, 42; 175/62; and tube guide are independent structures and each 166/50; 254/29 R have legs'adjustable in height. Provision is also made for interposing distance pieces between the ram means [56] References Cited and the tubes so that rams having a stroke short in com- UNITED STATES PATENTS parision Withthe length of the tubes may be used.

2,656,683 10/1953 Riva"... 175/62 X n 4 Claims, 2 Dra'wing Figures I 1. V TT *10 1 1 I ll. are)? .8 1 l Iu TUBE DRIVING APPARATUS This invention relates to apparatus for driving largediameter tubes where only a limited amount of space derground galleries by tunnel driving, starting out from a pilot gallery or the like. The apparatus consists of ram means supported on a ram support, and a tube guide for the tubes which are to be driven.

In the construction of underground galleries by tunnelling it is customary, by one method, to begin by driving a pilot gallery which has an arched roof. The pilot gallery is comparatively narrow, having a cross section usually between 6 and 8 square metres, the width of the pilot gallery being approximately 3 metres between the side walls. The pilot gallery is generally lined with standard tubings of the kind used in mining, spaced apart at approximately 120 to 150 cm and there is an over head l-section rail along which runs a travelling carriage capable of supporting safely a load of at most 500 kg.

Working from the pilot gallery a tubular roof can be constructed under which an underground gallery will subsequently be constructed by tunnelling. The procedure for constructing the tubular roof is as follows.

' Working from the pilot gallery, steel tubes are forced through the side wall of the gallery into the ground, which is more or less loose. Each tube is approximately 165 'cm long and has a diameter of 100 cm. Four lengths of tube are driven, to give a total tube length of 6.5 m. A series of tubes are driven next to each other and parallel to each other to form the tubular roof. Finally the tubes are filled with concrete, forming a roof deck of reinforced concrete. During the driving of the tube through the ground loose earth accumulates in the tube and is removed by a trolley which works in the tube.

Hitherto only extremely bulky telscopic hydraulic rams have been available for driving the tubes through the ground, such rams weighing between 2.0 and 2.5 tons. A hydraulic ram of this kind produces initially a high thrust, but-this decreases with the telescopic extension of the ram, which usually consists of three teleadvantage attained is that the ram support, on the one hand, and the tube guide, on the othe'rhand, can be transported separately to the site of operation and set up independently of each other to form a system adapted to. the particular conditions previaling at the site. It will be further noticed that allowances may easily be made for any irregularities in the floor. of the pilot gallery. I

A preferred version of the invention consists in that ram means are supported approximately horizontal on a ram support frame of the ram support, the reaction thrust of the ram means being taken by a reaction thrust plate which thrusts against the side wall of the pilot gallery, the ram thrust being applied to a tube through a second thrust plae, the two thrust plates being independent of each other. An advantageous arrangement according to the invention consists in that the ram support and the tube guide are each supported independently by four legs, each being independently adjustable in height, the legs being for example in the form of screw jacks or telescopic cylinder jacks. The ram means preferably consists of two rams aligned parallel to one another and arranged so as to act towards opposite ends of the second thrust plate.

Working with the apparatus is facilitated by arrang ing it in such a way that the second thrust plate has projecting supporting studs for supporting the second thrust plate on the tube, the two supporting studs being at such a distance apart that the thrust plate is supported horizontally just above the axis 'of the tube, the studs resting in contact with the outer surface of the tube. This makes it easy to support the second thrust plate at exactly the'right height on the tube ends, and

scopic driving cylinders. The apparatus is very heavy and it is extremely difficlt to transport it to the site of operation in the pilot gallery and assemble it ready for operation. It has hitherto not been practicable to use rams of this kind in the pilot galleries. Other known tube driving systems are even more bulky and require pilot galleries of larger dimensions. v

The object of the invention is to provide tube driving apparatus suitable for driving tubes under the conditions mentioned above, the apparatus being comparatively light in weight and easily transported to the site of operation. It must be possible to operate the apparatus in the limited space available and the apparatus must be capable of driving the tubes satisfactorily. in particular it must be possible to shift the tube driving apparatus easily and rapidly from one tube driving station to the next and set it up rapidly ready for the next I independent structures, each adjustable in height independently by means of adjustable legs. The particular to position the'driving rams parallel to the tube axis so that the driving thrust is applied parallel to the tube axis, to enable the tube to be driven through the ground without tilting. The reaction thrust plate is set firmly against the pilot gallery side wall with the help of wedges and the like. i

Driving rams of simple type are used, each ram having a working stroke of 55 to 60 cm. The drivingof cm long tube sections is made possible by providing in terchangeable distance pieces which may be different lengths for transmitting the thrust from the ram pistons to the tube. Each distance piece is arranged so that it is supported at one end on the ram piston and at the other end on the thrust plate. Manipulation of the interchangeable distance pieces is facilitated in that each distance piece has at one end a projecting ing for supporting the distance piece on the end of the ram piston and, at its other end, a projecting lug for supporting the distance piece on the thrust plate, and by providing each distance piece with a hand grip.

For removing the earth from inside the tube the-invention provides that a drive-on supporting pan is provided which can be installed between the ram support and the tube guide, the supporting pan being arranged so that a trolley or the like for removing loose earth from the interior of the tube, can be driven out of the tube onto the supporting panwhich is supported" at its forward end by pushing it into the end of the tube and at its rear end by a foot, adjustable in height and supported by a roller which rests on the floorof the gallery.

A preferred embodiment of tubedriving apparatus according to the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to-the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of an embodiment of tube driving apparatus according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partly sectioned plan view taken along the lines ll ll in FIG. 1 and drawn to a larger scale.

'The tube driving apparatus according to the invention consists essentially of a ram support 1, a tube guide 2 and a drive-on supporting pan 3 for a trolley 4 which is used for removing loose earth from inside the tubes 12.

As shown in the drawings, the ram support 1 consists of a square or rectangular ram support frame 5 which is supported at its four corners by legs 6, each of which is independently adjustable in height, for example the leg can be constructed a a screw jack or as a telescopic cylinder jack. The frame 5 supports ram means, preferably two hydraulic driving rams 7, each of which is capable of producing a ram thrust of 70 t, the stroke of the ram being approximately 55 to 60 cm. The two rams are supported so that they are approximately hori: zontal and parallel to each other. The reaction thrust of the two rams 7 is taken by a reaction thrust plate 9 which thrusts against a side wall 8 of the pilot gallery, the reaction thrust plate 9 being adjusted in position by means of wedges 10.

Pistons ll of the two rams apply thrust to a tube 12 through a thrust plate 13 which is equipped with two projecting supporting studs 14. The distance between the two supporting studs 14 is such that the thrust plate 13 is supported horizontally just above the axis of the tube 12, the two supporting studs 14 resting against the outer surface of the tube.

Between the thrust faces of the ram pistons, 11 and the thrust plate 13 there can be interposed distances pieces 15 of appropriate lengths. Each distance piece 15 has projecting supporting lugs 25, 26,.respectively supporting the distance pieces on the ends of the ram pistons 11, and on the thrust plate 13. Each distance piece also has a hand grip 16 to faciliate manipulation.

The tube guide 2 consists essentially of a square or rectangular guide support frame 17 which has, at each side, guide rails or rollers 18, which support tht tube 12 while allowing it to be advanced. The guide suppot frame 17 has at each corner a leg 19, all four legs being independently adjustable in height, for example they can be constructed as screw jacks or telesopic cylinder jacks. The two supporting frames 5 and 17 are thus ajdustable in height independently of each other, and any of their respective legs 6 or 19 may be extended or shortened to take account of any irregularities in the floor of the pilot gallery.

When the tube is being driven a certain amount of loose earth enters the interior of the tube. To remove this there is provided according to the invention a trolley 4. A supporting pan 3 is provided into which the trolley 4 can be run when it has been filled with earth. The pan 3 is supportd on the end of the tube and on a leg 20 having a roller 21 at its foot, the leg being adjustable in height. The arrangement allows the filled trolley 4 to be run out of the tube onto the supporting pan 3 from where it can be lifted by a travelling carriage 23 which runs along on an overhead rail 22. The travelling carriage 23 removes the filled trolley, taking it away along the pilot gallery. The individual lengths of tube 12 are joined together by internal jointing rings 24, making it unnecessary to butt weld the tubes together.

We claim 1. Apparatus for driving large diameter tubes at a location where only a limited amount of space is available, particularly for driving steel jacket tubes used in constructing reinforced concrete roof beams in the construction of underground galleries by tunnel driving, starting from a pilot gallery or the like having a side wall, the apparatus comprising a ram support; ram means supported on said ram support; a tube guide for the tubes to be driven, said ram support and said tube guide being independent structures; means for adjusting the height of said ram support and said tube guide independent from each other; a first thrust plate adapted to be applied against the side wall of the pilot gallery for taking up the reaction thrust of said ram means; a second thrust plate for transmitting the ram thrust to a tube, said second thrust plate being independent from said first thrust plate and having a pair of supporting studs projecting toward the tube and being spaced a distance from each other so as to be adapted to engage the outer surface of the tube for supporting said second thrust plate on the tube above the axis of the latter.

2. Apparatus for driving large diameter tubes at locations where only a limited amount of space is available, particularly for driving steel jacket tubes used in constructing reinforced concrete beams in the construction of underground galleries by tunnel driving, starting from a pilot gallery or the like, having a side wall, said apparatus comprising a ram support; ram means having driving pistons and being supported by said ram support; a tube guide for the tubes to be driven, said ram support and said tube guide being independent structures; means for adjusting the height of said ram support and said tube guide independently from each other; a first thrust plate adapted to be applied against the side wall of the pilot gallery for taking up the reaction thrust of said ram means; a second thrust plate for transmitting the thrust of said ram means to a tube to be driven, said second thrust plate being independent of said first thrust plate; and distance pieces for transmitting the thrust from the pistons of said ram means to said second thrust plate, each of said distance pieces being connected at one end to the respective piston and at the other end to said second thrust plate so as to be supported between the pistons and said second thrust plate exclusively by said connections.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each distance piece has at one end a projecting lug for support ing the distance piece on the end of the ram piston and, at its other end, a projecting lug for supporting the distance piece on the second thrust plate, each distance piece also having a hand grip.

4. Apparatus for driving large diameter tubes at locations where only a limited amount of space is available, particularly for driving steel jackettubes used in constructing reinforced concrete beams in the construction of underground galleries by tunnel driving; starting from a pilot gallery or the like, said apparatus comprising a ram support; ram means supported on said ram support; a tube guide for the tubes to be driven, said ram support and said tube guide being independent structures; and a drive-on supporting pan between said ram support and said tube guide and arranged so that a trolley or the like, for removing loose earth from the interior of the tube, can be run out of the tube onto said supporting pan, said supporting pan being supported at one end in the adjacent end of the tube, and at its other end by a height adjustable leg having a roller at its lower end adapted to rest on the floor of the pilot gal lery.

i t l Il ll 

1. Apparatus for driving large diameter tubes at a location where only a limited amount of space is available, particularly for driving steel jacket tubes used in constructing reinforced concrete roof beams in the construction of underGround galleries by tunnel driving, starting from a pilot gallery or the like having a side wall, the apparatus comprising a ram support; ram means supported on said ram support; a tube guide for the tubes to be driven, said ram support and said tube guide being independent structures; means for adjusting the height of said ram support and said tube guide independent from each other; a first thrust plate adapted to be applied against the side wall of the pilot gallery for taking up the reaction thrust of said ram means; a second thrust plate for transmitting the ram thrust to a tube, said second thrust plate being independent from said first thrust plate and having a pair of supporting studs projecting toward the tube and being spaced a distance from each other so as to be adapted to engage the outer surface of the tube for supporting said second thrust plate on the tube above the axis of the latter.
 2. Apparatus for driving large diameter tubes at locations where only a limited amount of space is available, particularly for driving steel jacket tubes used in constructing reinforced concrete beams in the construction of underground galleries by tunnel driving, starting from a pilot gallery or the like, having a side wall, said apparatus comprising a ram support; ram means having driving pistons and being supported by said ram support; a tube guide for the tubes to be driven, said ram support and said tube guide being independent structures; means for adjusting the height of said ram support and said tube guide independently from each other; a first thrust plate adapted to be applied against the side wall of the pilot gallery for taking up the reaction thrust of said ram means; a second thrust plate for transmitting the thrust of said ram means to a tube to be driven, said second thrust plate being independent of said first thrust plate; and distance pieces for transmitting the thrust from the pistons of said ram means to said second thrust plate, each of said distance pieces being connected at one end to the respective piston and at the other end to said second thrust plate so as to be supported between the pistons and said second thrust plate exclusively by said connections.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each distance piece has at one end a projecting lug for supporting the distance piece on the end of the ram piston and, at its other end, a projecting lug for supporting the distance piece on the second thrust plate, each distance piece also having a hand grip.
 4. Apparatus for driving large diameter tubes at locations where only a limited amount of space is available, particularly for driving steel jacket tubes used in constructing reinforced concrete beams in the construction of underground galleries by tunnel driving, starting from a pilot gallery or the like, said apparatus comprising a ram support; ram means supported on said ram support; a tube guide for the tubes to be driven, said ram support and said tube guide being independent structures; and a drive-on supporting pan between said ram support and said tube guide and arranged so that a trolley or the like, for removing loose earth from the interior of the tube, can be run out of the tube onto said supporting pan, said supporting pan being supported at one end in the adjacent end of the tube, and at its other end by a height adjustable leg having a roller at its lower end adapted to rest on the floor of the pilot gallery. 